Container and blank



Jan. 26, 1965 F. R. LINDA CONTAINER AND BLANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23. 1961 INVENTOR FRANK RAYMOND LINDA ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 F. R. LINDA CONTAINER AND BLANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1961 2 M 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I II 4 2 3 3 IF; 7: 3 v IIIILI 2- 3 I I I I I I I I I I l I I I FIG.5

INVENTOR. FRANK RAYMONDLINDA W J 1W ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 F. R. LINDA 3,

CONTAINER AND BLANK Filed Aug. 23, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl 6 7 INVENTOR.

FRANK RAYMOND LINDA ATTO RN EY' 7 ;:\}5. n /\l (I {\N I \I II Jan. '26, 1965 F. R. LINDA CONTAINER AND BLANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1961 lniiniirl flavltul In IIIII ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 F. R. LINDA CONTAINER AND BLANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1961 INVENTOR.

K RAYMOND LINDA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,167,230 CONTAINER AND BLANK Frank Raymond Linda, Norwalk, Conn, assignor to International Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 133,522 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) I p This invention relates to fluid packaging in containers of the order of five gallon size as distinguished from types currently used in half pint to half gallon sizes, and

more particularly to a fiberboard, i.e. paperboard and shipping them in metal containers such as stainless steel of usually five gallon size. Such cans are placed in standard type dispensing cabinets and connected to a dispensing spigot by flexible tubing. When the can is empty itrhas to be shipped back, thoroughly cleaned, sterilized and subjected to periodic retinning or other reprocessing which, together with the high initial cost of such cans, makes them expensive.

Potable and other liquids are currently packaged in single use or one trip disposable fiberboard containers in sizes ranging from one half pint to one half gallon. These have a square cross section and a rupturable closure which, when opened, forms a pouring spout at the top. But because of strength problems involving hydrostatic pressure of the contained liquid and other difficulties in connection with the necessity of dispensing individual portions from an upright container as distinguished from tipping a small container and pouring from its top, such known types of economic throw-away --fiberboard containers cannot be used for packaging larger quantities such as five gallons for use in dispensing many individual portions as is required in serving the public as distinguished from ordinary household requirements. Numerous attempts have been made to provide a satisfactory non-metal package for liquid for such purposes in the five gallon order of size, which is strong and safe enough to meet the requirements of shipping and handling and of public hygienic requirements and is at the same time inexpensive enough to befdiscarded after one trip or use. I

Cylindrical fiberboard containers of some types are strongenough to containfive gallonsof a liquid such as milk for shipment' and dispensing, but they are expensive to make and they cannot readily be shipped flat to the packager and erected at the plant site. This means that themanufacturer has to make and ship erected containers and'this practice, because of the volume required for shipping and warehousing, is prohibitive for most purposes such as the requirements of the dairy industry.

Such devices have also included a plastic film bag in a corrugated container. But they also have prohibitive shortcomings because the bags are inherently weak and subject :to bursting at the seams causing leakage due to rough handling and abrasion from the corrugated container in which they are placed and the container side walls degrade under conditions of use such as when they are'brought into a warm humid atmosphere after refrigeration. Furthermore, they fail-to meet the stringent health standards established in certain localities and they are subject to tampering such as contamination of the milk by partial replacement by water in such a manner that the practice cannot be readily detected.

3,167,230 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages by providing a strong hermetically sealed hygienic container and associated dispensing structure which is so inexpensive that after one filling, shipment and use it can be discarded with the result that each unit of liquid is always shipped in a brand new package and at a smaller expense on a per trip basis than can be accomplished by the usual metal containers and with the use of which no tampering can readily occur. The container of the present invention can be made in blank form, shipped flat and erected at the site by the packager.

Generally speaking, the advantages are obtained by providing, according to the invention, a paperboard container of roughly cylindrical shape, which for certain advantages of manufacture and use, has multiple fiat sides and is preferably hexagonal. In combination with the container a light-weight flexible inexpensive plastic structure provides the filling, sealing and dispensing means. By a simple hand operation a seal is broken allowing the liquid to be dispensed from the container through a tube and into dispensing apparatus to which the tube is connected.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide one trip or single service liquid packaging in larger bulk sizes which can be pre-manufactured, shipped in knock-down condition and erected at the place of use and which overcomes the disadvantages of previous systems. I

A further object is to provide such a container whose walls are not affected by alternate exposures to refrigeration and warm humid atmospheres.

Another object is to provide such a container which can be readily stacked without rupture or failure.

Another object is to provide such a container which will fit all of the existing dispensing type cabinets.

Another object is to provide such a container which can be filled with standard rapid operating filling apparatus.

Another object is to provide in combination with such a container a filling, closing and dispensing structure which can be readily sterilized by standard procedure and rapidly assembled in a substantially tamper-proof arrangement.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

" FIG. 1 is a general elevation view of the container and associated structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view showing some of the details of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the paperboard blank for the body of the container;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the paperboard blank which forms, respectively, the top and bottom of the container;

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary plan view of modified details of the top and bottom blanks of FIG. 6; g I

FIG. 6b is a fragmentary elevation view of an end of the container formed with the blanks of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation View similar to FIG. 1 showing details of the bottom of the container including the parts of the closure and dispensing structure with the parts assembled and in condition for shipment after filling the container but before dispensing;

FIGS. 8 to 10 comprise together essentially an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG. 7 including re spectively in FIG. 8a bottom plan view of the spout unit, in FIG. 9 an end elevation of the plug member and in FIG. 10 a longitudinal view in elevation of the dispensing tube and plug member.

. FIGS. 11 to 13 comprise together essentially an exploded view of. a modification of the closure and dispensing structure including respectively in FIG; :11 an elevation view of the combined retaining ring and spout unit, in FIG. 12 an end elevation view of a plug member and in FIG. 13 a longitudinal view in elevation of the dispensing tube and plug member.

7 7 FIGS. 14 to *16 comprisetogether essentially an ex ploded view of afurther modification 'of a filling, closure and'dispensing structure including respectivelyin FIG. 14

an elevation ViCWJOf the retaininglringand spout unit and in FIG. *alongitudinal viewlin elevation ofa'dis pensing tube .and plug member, in FIG; 16 an end eleva-' tion of a plug member.

In thedrawings FIG.,':1 shows the general assembly of i a preferred embodiment which includes respectively a con, tainer A, afilling, closure and dispensing structure B at I the bottom and an air vent C atthe top.

In .filling the container A it is turned upside .down'so that the bottom as seen in. FIG. 1 is up providingla filling I hole on the upper. end before the closure parts of the structure B' areinserted. Thereafterfas during shipping the container my stand with either end up but when it is I arranged for dispensing it is placed with thewtop end up andthe bottom end down asseen in FIG..-1. V V The container A has a .body 1' which is erected from a body part blank 1b (FIG. 5) formed from; a single' 7 sheet. It has at least fivewall panelsyand preferably six formed at the intersections '47:, e a of the-first and second scores 11 and 12 which can'be' pressed into'the corners in adie forming operation to achieve sealedjoints between the container ends 5 and ,6 and the body'l when the parts are assembled and heat sealed .orotherwise mated together preferably under heat and pressure. It will be seen that althoughin FIG." 6 the cutouts 13 between the flaps 10'appear relativelylarge, nevertheless when the parts are assembled as shown in FIGS, 1 to 4 their edgescomeltogether closely.

I The edges of the cutouts'13 haveprojecting portions 13a andrelief portions .13b,.the purpose of which is to provide as much sealing area and reinforcing strength as possible by use of the projections 13a," while at the' same time providing relief between the portions 13b to insure that a; good jointisformed when the folds are pressed into thecorners.

.In.FIG.'6 a the cutouts 13' or theblanks 5b and 6b are" modified-to provide an alternativeform in which the edges 13a are parallel and terminate at tab points 13K which overlap as shown in FIG.'6b,when the container A is erected thereby" to reinforce and stiffen the corners.

While the dieforming' operationfor'assembling thecon- 2 tainer ends may be'more'difiicult in this instance, there as shown and the body panels-2 am defined by l'ongitudinal scores 3. Prefer-ably,'as for a five gallon size container, the blank 1b is made' fromtwo layersof paper-y board stock laminated together with polyethylene. The lamination may be coated with a suitable water proofing and protective .material such as a medium-,densitypoly- In a five'gallon size the container stock may ethylene. have'a total thickness or caliperof the order of 4040'. 1 The use of the hexagonal cross section of the container body provides storage in a minimal space and superior strength with a minimumsbulging due to hydrostatic p're'ssure, of the contents; It has ther advantageof ease of' manufacture and final erection, inherent ina fiat sided.

sult mayjustify it in terms ofdiesirable additional strength for somepurposesg q The filling, closure and dispensing structure- B indicatedwith respect to its location onqthe container in i 1 FIGS. l we and shownin greater detail inFIGS. 7 t'o 10 "is mounted in the recess R at the hol'e 8-in theb'ottom' 6 ;of the, container .Thepa'rts of the-structure B are preferably formed of a resilient synthetic plastic material'such i 'as polyethylene'so'that they arefsomewhatifle dble and deformable.

This structure comprises "closurejmember's including a I retaining ring 30 and a spout unit 31'. [Theretaining'ring structure and the strength characteristics of a shape which approaches the cylindricaL, The container A has a top 5 and a bottom 6 formed from single sheet'topand bottom part blanks Sb and 6b (FIG. 6) which are identical exception the size of'the center holes, the smaller one of which. 7 is provided; to

accommodate the air vent structure C and the largerof.

which 8 is provided to accommodate the-closure and dispensing structure B. The indications of these holes 7 and 8 are for convenience superimposed in FIG. '6.

The .top andbottom parts 5 and'6 have radially arranged flaps 10 corresponding tothe wall panels2 ofthe' body 1'. The'flaps 10 are definedby first scoresll" arranged as chords of a circle-second scores 12 arranged on radii of thecircle whichpass throughthe intersections of the first scores 11 and cutouts'13 between the flaps 10 ar- 1 rangedsymmetrically on the radii. 'i 1; i 1 The flaps 10 are divided into inner and outer; portions 15 and 16 by third scores 17 parallel to the first'scores 11. The top and bottom parts .5 andsar located inlth'e" I respective top andrbottom endsof the container body 1 with theinner andouter portions 15'and 16of theirflaps -10 straddling the end edges '4 of the wallpanels 2 of the body 1. a V V The end parts are thus arranged so that when'the container is erected; its body over-extendsrthe transverse porstock.

The permanent securing of the retaining ring 30may 'down for this purpose.

30. has meansto engage it pe'rman'ently wiith aliquid tight seal to' thee'dg'e 32 ofthe-.hole 8,,whicli may include a 'heat's'eal 351-or other suitable adhesion provided fas' by heat fusing the polyethylene "material, of the retaining ring 30 and. the polyethylene .coating 90f: the container After the container A 'isfilled with liquid'the spout unit 31' is inserted inwardly into the retaining ring 30 and locked in place with a liquiditight seal? in such-a manner fthat' it' cannot bereadily'withdrawn- For this: purpose the; retaining ring 30 and the spout unit, 31 havevengage ment means including corresponding circumferential; bead portions'141'and 42l'which' are capable of being engaged by snappingthem 'over eachother by hand pressure;

7 Thefs'pout unitmayhave'anadditional peripheral, bead 44 which is' deformed while thespoutunitl is being'pressed tions of the end parts,.thereby forming an exposed recess- R at one end of the container in whichthe dispensing structure B may be arranged to besubstantiallyentirely 1 contained upon its assemblywith andconnection'to the container., 1 r a V V The scores 11 and 12 arepreferably formed so that they fade out and disappear as they approach their: points of intersection 20, as. seen -inF IG. ;so that whenthe' ends and 6 areplaced in the container'bodyl to,- form the container A, wet; areas providing corner-folds'i'25are into: the retaining ring 30' and which then snaps into place over inner 'corner edge' 45 of, the retaining ring 30,

thereby providing a doublelock1and seal between the, parts lwhich'is' substantially incapable of being disengaged.

The spout unit 31'has a round orifice 50. and an in-[ tegrally formed -rupturableiliquid proof diaphragm 52 at an innerend' of the orifice.'-

Dispensing means includefa' fleidble dispensing tube 55 which has'r'otatably engaged to. it,- as] by a slidingfilt, a hollow plug member 56 which is arranged to fit in the orifice and in engagement with the spout unit 31;

-The internalsurface" of the orifice 50; and. the external; "surface; of the plug memberg56 have corresponding threads 58 and '59 by which they are engaged together.

The spout unit 31 preferably has a bevelled circular flange 60 and the plug member 56 has a circular external splitskirt 61.

The parts are normally pre-assembled in the condition in which they are shown in FIG. 7 with the threads 58 and 59 engaged, the tip 57 of the plug member 56 adjacent or just touching the diaphrgam seal 52 and with the edge of the skirt 61 on the plug 56 just touching the surface of the bevelled flange 60 with slight pressure. In this condition the rupturable diaphragm 52 is protected and kept intact by the plug 56 which because of the frictional engagement of the bevelled flange 60 and the skirt 61 cannot easily be inadvertently turned on its threads 59.

When the liquid is to be dispensed from the container A the plug member 56 is turned by hand which, because of its threadable engagement, moves it further into the orifice 50. This operation brings together a pair of circular corresponding sealing surfaces 65 and 66 on the end of the spout unit 31 and inside the skirt 61 of the plug member 56 respectively. The split skirt 61 yields by expansion and rides up the surface of the bevelled flange 60 and the tip 57 of the plug member 56 ruptures the diaphragm 52 and the liquid in the container may thereby flow out through the spout unit 31, the plug 56 and the dispensing tube 55.

As seen in FIG. a coiled spring 70 made of a suitable material such as stainless steel may be provided inside the flexible tube 55 to prevent kinking. A plug 71 may be provided in the outer end 72 of the dispensing tube 55 and the tube 55 and associated parts may be covered with a polyethylene sleeve (not shown) for hygienic purposes. The plug 71 and the sleeve are removed when the liquid is to be dispensed, and the tube 55 is connected by the usual means to the associated parts of a dispensing apparatus (not shown).

As seen in FIG. 4 an air vent is provided in the form of a vent member 80 made of a suitable material such as polyethylene. It is hermetically secured in the hole 7 as by a suitable flange 81 which is heat sealed to the material of the top 5 of the container A. The vent member 80 has a passage 82 leading from inside the container A and which is closed off by the solid upper end of the vent member 80, so that until use, the vent member 80 is a closure. A groove 85 encircles the vent member 80 providing a point of weakness at which the top of the vent member 80 can be broken oif by hand thereby open ing the passage 82 to the atmosphere allowing air to enter the top of the container A to replace the liquid being dispensed.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a modification B of the details of a closure and dispensing structure in which a combined retaining ring and spout .30 is secured in a hole in the wall material 32' of a container as by a heat seal 35'.

The ring 30 has an internal orifice 50' at the inner end of which is secured an integral rupturable diaphragm 52, also shown in its ruptured condition 52", and external threads 90. At the inner end of the threads 90 a bevelled peripheral flange 91 provides a head which is snapped into the hole of the container to form a lock over the edge of the material 32.

As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13 the dispensing means includes a tube 55' which has mounted on its end, as by a sliding fit, a plug member 56' which has a skirt 91 with internal threads 94 and at the bottom of which is a sealing surface 92 which cooperates with a sealing surface 93 at the outer end of the ring 30'. A breakaway ring 95 is integrally attached to the outer end of the skirt 91 by a weak portion formed by a circular groove 96 and the breakaway ring 95 is itself adapted to be broken apart by longitudinal grooves 97 which provide longitudinal lines of Weakness 98.

When the parts are assembled for shipment and in a condition prior to dispensing, the plug member 56 is engaged to the retaining ring 30' by the threads 90 and 94, with the tip 97 of the plug 56 just touching or adjacent the diaphragm 52' and with the end surface of the breakaway ring 95 just touching the bevelled flange 91 with slight pressure so as to prevent inadvertent turning of the plug member 56'.

For dispensing, the plug member 56' is turned up on the external threads of the ring 30'. This causes the breakaway ring to yield and ride up and expand on the bevelled flange 91 breaking it into parts and away from the'skirt 91. This allows further turning of the plug member 56' so that its tip 97 ruptures the diaphragm as indicated at 52" in FIG. 11. i

It will be appreciatedthat this modification provides no means for filling and that the filling will be accommodated by other means on the container.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a further modification B" of closure and dispensing structure which accommodates lling also, as in the first described structure, and combines some of the features of both above described embodiments. r

In this further modification the retaining ring 30" is secured to the material 32" of the container as by a heat seal 35" and a bead 36. The container is filled through the ring 39".

After filling, the spout unit 31' is inserted and retained in the retaining ring 30 by a snap in operation which involves engagement of multiple corresponding beads 41 and 42' on the retaining ring 30" and spout unit 31 respectively. The spout unit 31' has an internal oriflceSt)" at the inner end of which is an integrally formed diaphragm 52a. It also has internal threads 58a in the orifice 50 and an external flange 60a.

The plug member 56a is rotatably connected to the dispensing tube 55a as by a sliding fit and has a skirt 91a and a breakaway ring 95a. It has external threads 59a engageable with internal threads 58a in the orifice 50.

When the parts are assembled ready for use before dispensing, the tip 97a which is in the form of a chiselled edge is adjacent the diaphragm 52a with the breakaway ring 95a in contact with the bevelled flange 60a.

When dispensing is to be accomplished, the plug member is rotated on the spout unit 31'. The ring yields and rides up the flange 60a breaking the ring 95a and bringing sealing surfaces 92a and 93a together and rupturing the diaphragm 52a.

The invention includes the container, both in its blank form and in its fully erected form as a usable container, and since it is contemplated that it will, after manufacture of the flat blanks, exist in both blank form and in erected condition, both forms and the associated structure are necessarily claimed.

I claim:

1. A fiberboard blank structure for a liquid container, said structure comprising, in combination, a body part having at least five wall panels defined by longitudinal scores, top and bottom parts each having radially arranged flaps corresponding to the wall panels of the body part, the flaps being defined by first scores arranged as chords of a circle, second scores arranged on radii of said circle which pass through the intersections of said scores, and cutouts between the flaps arranged symmetrically on said radii, said flaps being divided into inner and outer portions by third scores parallel to said first scores, said body part being capable of erection into a symmetrical form, said top and bottom parts being capable of insertion into the ends of the erected body part with the inner and outer portions of their said flaps straddling the end edges of the said Wall panels and with the portions at the intersections of said first and second scores forming web areas providing sealed joints in the corners of the top and bottom parts.

2. A fiberboard blank structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the body part is formed from a single sheet and has six wall panels, the top and bottom parts are each formed from single sheets and the flaps of the top and bottom parts correspond to the wall panels of the body.

whichterminate at tab points '3. A fiberboard blankistructure' as set forth' in claim 1: a in which said cutouts have'relief portions in the parts-of their edges whichare'adjacent the outside corners of the body part when the containeris erected. I V

4. A fiberboardblank structure asset forth' in claim 1 in which said cutouts have substantially parallel edges which overlap when the container is erected;

means to provide an air vent. t, 7. A fiberboard liquid container comprising, in cornbination, a bodyf'part having at least five wall .panels defined by longitudinal scores,.top and bottom parts .each having radially arranged flaps corresponding to the wallxy,

panels of the body part, the flaps being'defined by'first scores. arranged tas chords. of in circle; second scores arinwhichtheibocfi part is formed f romia single sheet and haspsix'wall panels,'the top and bottom parts are each formed from single sheets and the flaps oflthe top and bottom parts correspond to thewall panels of the body.

9. A fiberboard liquidtc'o'ntainer. as set forth inclaim 7 in which said cutouts have-relief portions'in the parts :of their edges which are adjacent the outside corners of the body part when the vcontainer is erected."

10. A fiberboard container as setforth in claim 7 in which said cutouts-have siibstantially parallel edges which terminate at the points which overlap when the container is erected.

ranged on radii, of said circlewhich pass through the intersections of said'first'scores, and cutouts betwee'n 'the flaps arranged symmetrically on said radii, said flaps ,being': divided into inner and outer portions by third scores paral-' lel to ,saidfirstscores; said top andb'ottom parts being in the-ends of the body part "with the inner and outer:

portions of their said flaps straddling the end edges of the a l I V V V I f R'AN KilN T. GARRETT Pr im ary Exqminer V 7 3o rnnaoi r E. VCOLNDQN, EARLE 1. DRUMMOND,

said wall panels'andwiththe portions at the intersections of said first and second scores forming web 'a reas providing sealed joints in the corners of the' top and bottom parts. 5

8.'A fiberboard liquid container asset forth in claim'7 H111. A;fiber'b oard container as setdforthvin claim7 in which one of: said body, top and bottom parts' has an 15' opening for dispensing from the container. 12. A fiberboard container as 'set forth in 'clairn 114 in means to provide i an air vent;

which another; ofsaid body, topand bottom parts has 7 References Cited by the Examiner Examiners. 

1. A FIBERBOARD BLANK STRUCTURE FOR A LIQUID CONTAINER, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BODY PART HAVING AT LEAST FIVE WALL PANELS DEFINED BY LONGITUDINAL SCORES, TOP AND BOTTOM PARTS EACH HAVING RADIALLY ARRANGED FLAPS CORRESPONDING TO THE WALL PANELS OF THE BODY PART, THE FLAPS BEING DEFINED BY FIRST SCORES ARRANGED AS CHORDS OF A CIRCLE, SECOND SCORES ARRANGED ON RADII OF SAID CIRCLE WHICH PASS THROUGH THE INTERSECTIONS OF SAID SCORES, AND CUTOUTS BETWEEN THE FLAPS ARRANGED SYMMETRICALLY ON SAID RADII, SAID FLAPS BEING DIVIDED INTO INNER AND OUTER PORTIONS BY THIRD SCORES PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST SCORES, SAID BODY PART BEING CAPABLE OF ERECTION INTO A SYMMETRICAL FORM, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PARTS BEING CAPABLE OF INSERTION INTO THE ENDS OF THE ERECTED BODY PART WITH THE INNER AND OUTER PORTIONS OF THEIR SAID FLAPS STRADDLING THE END EDGES OF THE SAID WALL PANELS AND WITH THE PORTIONS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SCORES FORMING WEB AREAS PROVIDING SEALED JOINTS IN THE CORNER OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM PARTS. 